Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

No tipping means better business

tastefulventures.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

411–420 of 550 posts

Re: No tipping means better business

#411

Post by jghn »

nolite wrote: post #381
jackptfh wrote: post #373

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, on average the server at the high end restaurant did substantially more work, and they performed it more expertly. they were better able to answer questions and offer suggestions (including off-menu changes that might help you). They timed your meal for your enjoyment rather than for turnover. They made sure you had fresh silverware, a clean table, and a full glass. They coordinated your bar, wine, and food orde…

All of these things you describe, fall under what I consider "their job"

and part of the compensation package associated with "their job" is tipping.

Re: No tipping means better business

#412

Post by elastic_church »

makecheck wrote: post #342

Tipping is also extremely inconsistent in at least three ways. One is the idea of a percentage: how does that make any sense? When I go out for a rare nice dinner and the tip alone ends up being $20 or so, I ask myself: did this person/restaurant really do any more than the server of the last entire meal that cost $20? Of course not, and yet somehow it would look weird to pay $40 for a $20 meal with tip, for the same…

And don't forget the entire lower class of super-important minimum wage earners who collectively have disdain for minorities that don't tip as high.

The insanity is amusing just typing it out, amongst other commenters talking about how strange America seems from other countries.

Re: No tipping means better business

#413

Post by ovulator »

demosito666 wrote: post #391
oddlyaromatic wrote: post #238

Here's a pickle: I agree with the direction of this article, but I don't agree with most of the individual points and statements. I think the expectation of tipping in the US is in general a bad thing, but has enough upsides for business owners and some higher-earning servers (and even some customers) that it will be hard to dislodge. I also think the incentive for any business to change is probably not as high as th…

Is tipping somewhat mandatory in the US? Everywhere I've been it's up to the customer to decide if he wants to leave the tip. What if I won't leave tips?

It is seen as extremely rude. If you are picking up the bill for a party or a date and don't tip, it will shine a very negative light on you. And whoever you are with will probably leave the tip behind in your stead.

EDIT: If it was obvious to everyone that the service was bad, leaving without a tip will be fine.

Re: No tipping means better business

#415

Post by jghn »

Johnny555 wrote: post #359
logfromblammo wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you plan on leaving a $0 tip, you'd better complain to the manager first.

Why is it my responsibility to do performance reviews of restaurant employees? The management already forced me into a performance rating system through tips, I shouldn't have to sit down with the manager to do a detailed performance review too. Besides, if the food and service was so bad that it warranted a $0 tip, I'm probably not coming back.

For one thing they have no idea if you have a legitimate complaint, are someone who has such high standards that it's not worth catering to, or simply a cheap bastard. They care strongly about the former, will shake their head at the middle and will dislike you if it were the latter.

If you actually speak up they'll have a better idea.

Re: No tipping means better business

#416

Post by jghn »

logfromblammo wrote: post #357
kutkloon7 wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

20% is also a big part of the bill, and if you go out everything is overpriced already.

The standard tip for table service at a restaurant in the US is 15%.

Not for at least a decade, more in larger cities.

Re: No tipping means better business

#417

Post by kasey_junk »

greedo wrote: post #299
kasey_junk wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The labor laws in the USA are extremely bizarre. Wait staff have a different, much lower, minimum wage than other workers. The restaurant is required to pay them the regular minimum wage if their tips do not make up the difference, and this is a source of many labor complaints. For most wait staff this is not an issue. Their tips put them well above minimum wage status, but that is one of the big drivers of the tippi…

The restaurant I worked in during the 80's pooled tips, and both the chef and the line/prep cooks shared in the pool. I think even the lowly dishwasher was included, though we all gave him part of our own tips before putting them in the pool.

You'd need to consult a labor lawyer to be sure but that is probably a labor law violation unless the front of house staff was being paid the regular minimum wage and not the credited wage.

https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs15.pdf

Re: No tipping means better business

#418

Post by kasey_junk »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #281
kasey_junk wrote: post #147

The last issue "Chef's will love you" has a lot less to do with tipping or not (personally I'm against tipping and wish it would go away, but its not why back of house staff get stiffed). Back of house staff, in the US, cannot tip share. Its against the law. Assumedly this was originally meant as a worker protection, but in recent years, especially at higher end establishments, it acts as a wage limit for the people…

> Back of house staff, in the US, cannot tip share. Its against the law. Do you have a reference for this? I know of a few restaurants, in New York and Arizona, where the kitchen shares in the pool.

https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs15.pdf

A labor lawyer could answer better, but if the restaurants are paying the credited wage and not the full one that is probably a labor law violation (which are rampant in restaurants).

Re: No tipping means better business

#419

Post by dragonwriter »

vkjv wrote: post #261
radmuzom wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it very funny when people argue that increasing the minimum wage would increase costs for consumers (I don't necessarily disagree; in some cases it would, whether that is a bad thing is a different matter). I personally would pay a higher price, no tips and ensure that the workers serving can meet their basic needs via wages alone.

Just an FYI, but if a tipped employee does not meet the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference. https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm

> Just an FYI, but if a tipped employee does not meet the minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference.

In most cases, they'll also be fired quickly if they don't, so they'll overreport tips to "make" the minimum wage even if they don't actually receive enough.

Whether or not tipping should exist, if it does, it shouldn't substitute for the minimum wage, it should be entirely on top of it.

Re: No tipping means better business

#420

Post by beefield »

gonzo41 wrote: post #210
tjic wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> When a person walks into a restaurant in the USA they can waive a $20 bill at a waitperson and say if you do what I want, and if I like you, and if I'm feeling generous, I might give you some of this. So you also dislike bonuses for white collar professionals? Because it's exactly the same thing.

I worked in finance sales for about 3 years. Bonuses are fun but I have seen a lot of misconduct in the pursuit of a bonus. Maybe its just banking... I'm all for the no tipping and i happily work without a bonus. And i would expect other to as well. If you can't show up and be consistent in performance without a carrot then thats maybe not a great reflection of how you work and what you value.

> I worked in finance sales for about 3 years. Bonuses are fun

I think this should be obligatory link in all bonus related discussions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

Post reply on HN